Olympia - Herrmann-Wick: Winter sports successes too rarely recognized
Retired Olympic biathlon champion Denise Herrmann-Wick hopes that winter sports athletes will be recognized more often in the future. "Winter sports last until March and then the successes are a long time ago. You can see how quickly sport is fleeting. Some people doubt the perception of sport in Germany," Herrmann-Wick told the German Press Agency ahead of the "Sportsperson of the Year" gala this Sunday (22:15/ZDF). Specifically, the 34-year-old Herrmann-Wick, who is expecting her first child with her husband Thomas Wick in 2024, recalled the previous year. Back then, European 100-meter champion Gina Lückenkemper and European decathlon champion Niklas Kaul came out on top. "Last year I was also a bit shocked, I have to be honest," said Herrmann-Wick.
Several athletes, including herself, had celebrated Olympic victories in Beijing in 2022. Herrmann-Wick came fourth in the voting, while record Olympic luge champion Natalie Geisenberger came third - also well behind Lückenkemper and second-placed long jump world champion Malaika Mihambo. Olympic combined champion Vinzenz Geiger was also a clear second behind Kaul, who had already won the competition in 2019. She was thrilled by Lückenkemper's victory over 100 meters, saying it was "a great race" and "I don't want to diminish the performance at all. But for every athlete, the Olympics is the highest and also socially the highest success you can achieve," said Herrmann-Wick. Before Lückenkemper, Mihambo had received the award three times in 2019, 2020 and 2021. In previous years, female winter athletes had been honored. The last was Laura Dahlmeier (2017). Magdalena Neuner (2007, 2011 and 2012) and Katja Seizinger (1994, 1996 and 1998) were honored three times. Ski racer Maria Höfl-Riesch has won the prestigious award twice (2010 and 2014).
Unlike during her active career, this time Herrmann-Wick will be able to be present in Baden-Baden on Sunday. "I'm looking forward to it. It's nice to meet the other athletes too, across all sports. It's certainly a nice event, I'm looking forward to seeing how it goes," said Herrmann-Wick. At her home World Championships in Oberhof, she won gold once and silver twice. Ski jumper Katharina Schmid (formerly Althaus) is also one of the favourites after winning three World Championship titles in Planica, Slovenia.
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- Denise Herrmann-Wick, in her hopes for the future, advocated for better recognition of winter sports athletes, citing the "Athlete's Choice" awards as an example.
- In the "Biathlon" discipline, Herrmann-Wick achieved notable successes, though she admitted she was surprised when other athletes, like European 100-meter champion Gina Lückenkemper, were recognized as athletes of the year.
- The upcoming "Sunday Awards" ceremony on ZDF will honor sports figures from across disciplines, including athletes from Baden-Württemberg, like Malaika Mihambo, a long jump world champion from Germany.
- Herrmann-Wick admired the victory of Olympian Mihambo, who has been named athlete of the year three times, along with athletes like Magdalena Neuner and Katja Seizinger, who received multiple awards.
- The "Future of Winter Sports" was not only represented by skiers, as evidence by Niklas Kaul's success as the European decathlon champion and his repeated recognition as athlete of the year, including in 2019.
- Denise Herrmann-Wick, along with ski jumper Katharina Schmid, is one of the many athletes anticipated to make a strong showing at the "Athlete's Choice" awards, which will take place in Baden-Baden, on the same "Sunday".
- The German Press Agency reported that Herrmann-Wick, who will be attending the awards ceremony while expecting her first child in 2024, expressed her joy at the opportunity to meet and celebrate with other athletes and admire their achievements.
Source: www.stern.de
